Why Vilma v. Goodell is much more than just a defamation lawsuit
 

Vilma v. Goodell is more than just a defamation lawsuit. It is a direct challenge to a commissioner who, until now, has acted with more power than any commissioner in U.S. sports history. It is also an attempt to import judicial review of an individual who, until now, has been judge, jury and executioner of NFL justice.

Read more: Jonathan Vilma v. Roger Goodell is more than just a defamation lawsuit - Michael McCann - SI.com

Yeah... Saw that... This is getting fun to see Goodell feel the heat!

Hopefully this changes the way the NFL handles suspensions/appeals

Been thinking that for a while now. This whole "one-man-is-judge-jury-executioner" thing couldn't be more unAmerican. Give 'em hell Jon!

Ok the gloves are off.

Lawyer up Goodell. I don't think he'll be able to use a NFL lawyer for this one since it's personal and not the NFL Vilma's challenging

Well, like it or not, Vilma has now put himself in a position that he must win or his NFL career is over. I get that he should appeal his year long suspension, but seriously, suing Goodell is going to blacklist him, of course unofficially but officially. I do respect that Vilma has the mindset to challenge them, good for him, hope he wins and gets his suspension overturned.

Man is the UGLIETS off season the SAINTS have ever had.

Goodellgate

Goodellgate

Goodellgate

Goodellgate

As for the evidence, I have a feeling all he has is a big stack of testimonies from people who do not want to get involved beyond making confidential statements. That is not going to fly. These people will in fact have to swear under oath. This could be a big problem for Goodell. If they didn't want to be known then they certainly won't want to be known now. Even if the court promises to protect their identity that may not be enough. They could just say, um....no thanks.

It was likely over anyway.... that was a miscalculation by Herr Fuhrer Goodell.

Could somebody throw a little more gas on Godhell? I've got a match. :razz:

i think all vilma wants in this is to see the so called evidence the nfl has against him that they wouldnt show him during the appeals process. by suing goodell his lawyer could subpena these files and have to make them public. and then the world could see this so called evidence and determine for themselves just how good it is.

And man, that's sayin' something ...

Would Ray Lewis allow himself to get punked by Goodell? I think NOT.

Enjoy the hotseat, Roger. Then we'll welcome Vilma back into the fold.

Alaska

... that and put an end to Goodell's bullying by possibly taking a bullet for the rest of the league ... best of luck, JV, 'stick it to the man'.

Yes, but it works both ways---Vilma will need to swear under oath as well. He could actually face criminal charges based on testimony.
He must be confident, plus he has hired the NFL-Killer lawyer Ginsberg.

read my sig. line

These "anonymous" sources will have to be revealed in court. Goddell can't have his "unnamed sources" now that Vilma has said, "I want to know who is accusing me, and what they are accusing me of." And, in a court of law, Vilma has that right under our constitution.

I think Goddell has really stepped in it now, and I would not be at all surprised if the owners stepped in, and told Goddell to slow down.

Well, this can really be interesting.
One part of me just wants this thing to be over with and the 2012 season to start and for the Saints to coming out winning. Do instead of talk.
Then on the other hand, the bountygate talk, TALK was very bad, stupid, immoral, ugly talk. TALK. Where is the proof that the Saints tried to take out players and played nasty and dirty with late hits?
Where?
I keep seeing the NFL Net show Saints ; tackles same as any other club.
As far the NFL using the Saints "bad talk" as proof that this NFL has player safety first and using this as a proof in concussion lawsuits, well, I doubt that works. When you allow helemt to helmet hits sometimes, that throws this out.

Vilma wanting to take this further, ok,might be good for Saints in that name names ,sources , proof . Show the evidence.

Goodell has stated on ESPN he has 2,000 individual statements that he took in private. That's about 2 a day over the last 3 years, remarkable. But ok, I'll buy it.

What I don't buy is of all these these people, nobody decided to just say screw it and come forward to the public either for monetary or morale reasons regarding bounties to injure players on any team....not a single one? Amazing!

If I were Vilma's lawyer I would be feeling fairly confident that Goodell won't be able to get any of them to testify under oath. Vilma has already stated he was not involved. So where does that leave us? Goodell is going to have to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Maybe he can, but for someone who submitted a sham email from a convict as evidence I don't think he's going to pull anything out of that hat except lent.

Great Point, especially when you consider that the majority of those statements have to be from players, or personnel close to the team.

Take your turn. Vilma is gonna burn him first.

Do you have a link to this? I really doubt its validity. Not doubting you heard it, but I want to see it.

It's actually over two dozen, not 2K, so I apologize, I just misheard it but still, if you watch the video there are other thing that are confusing.

Like the email not "not as big as a factor (2:15)" when that was the main thing pushed on the public. Then "we put together all of our information and released all of our information on March 2nd (3:20)" that is in fact a lie. We are still waiting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...uoFirJQyk#t=0s

Yes., and I think people need to realize that the evidence that Goodell has, villa's lawyers know about.
All of the documents were freely given to the NFL by the Saints HO, they didn't raid the Dome. So, Vilma's lawyers have looked over everything given to the NFL, and see no case. Short of a confession no one knows about, I can't see how Goodell will justify his comments. But, Vilma will have to explain his also.

Really interested to see RG's play here. Does he spend the time and money (and risk) and go balls to the walls to defend himself? does he cut a deal?

The only thing in his favor (other than supposed evidence) is that Vilma and Ginsburg have to prove intended malice by RG's action. That is subjective at best, but since we all know the punishments are for lying and not hitting, it just might work.

It seems like RG is all-in no matter what he does.

I don't think there is a deal or settlement Goodell could cut, in a defamation case, that would pull Vilma off the attack now, if Vilma thinks he has genuinely been defamed

Agreed, by all accounts Vilma is insanely intelligent, so highly unlikely that this was a heat of the moment decision and be placated. Vilma is a shark out for blood.

Sure he could- "After re-examining the evidence and looking at new material, I now find that Vilma was not guilty. Suspension over."

So let's say that Vilma is telling the truth and Goodell was wrong and defamed him.

Where did this whole report of the Vilma offering 10K for a Warner/Favre knockout come from?

Was it in one of those "e-mails" or something some "unnamed source" said? :rolleyes:

if there is no proof we should get our coach and front office back. hitler needs to be taken down a notch